Happy 80th birthday to Leo Brereton.

 

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Leo Brereton

Career : 1957 –62
Debut : Round 1, 1957 vs Hawthorn, aged 20 years, 170 days
Carlton Player No. 707
Games : 72
Goals : 129
Guernsey No. 6
Last Game: Preliminary Final, 1962 vs Geelong, aged 25 years, 318 days
Height : 174cm
Weight : 70kg
DOB : 1 November, 1936
Leading Goalkicker: 1960

Recruited from the Murray River town of Cohuna, Brereton was a small, nippy rover with excellent goal sense. He wore guernsey number 6 in his 72 games for the Blues in seasons 1957 to ’62, including finals appearances in 1957, 1959 and 1962.

Brereton would share his debut game in 1957 with Club Great John Nicholls.

A skilled crumber, he kicked 130 career goals, including 44 in 1960 to win Carlton’s goal kicking award.

The Age May 01 1963 reported that Leo had been cleared to Nagambie.
“Brereton, who is 26 and has played 70 games with the Blues, has been unable to force his way into the senior team this season. Nagambie club officials were at Princes Park last night and discussed the clearance with Carlton officials.
Brereton will continue to train with Carlton.
Carlton chairman of selectors, Mr. Percy Bentley, said last night Nagambie was getting a League player who had plenty of football ahead of him.
The Blues’ action in clearing him was a reminder to country clubs generally that League clubs were prepared to help them whenever possible.”

Leo Brereton

Another Melbourne import. Brereton came from Carlton to Manuka this season and struck great form. He was Manuka’s star in a dismal team effort last week and will lift the team today with his brilliance.
(Canberra Times September 05 1964)

Milestones

50 Games: Round 11, 1960 vs Melbourne
100 Goals: Round 4, 1961 vs South Melbourne